NO MORE! The World's Most 'Worn Out' Songs?
 

Hear us from heaven!!!!




Why doesn't He hear us from where we are ..... He promised He would be with us. I am sure I am not in heaven, and I want Him with me.

Any of this new washed-up @#$%*&^# that comes from the vineyard movement can't be gone too soon to suit me.

Most of the songs are indistinguishable from secular pop love songs. A majority change tempo and key 5 or 6 times; people who demonstrably worship to older, more steady songs seldom worship to them.

- resident curmudgeon

I'm afraid that I can even make out the melody to most songs in church anymore. If it weren't for the lyrics coming up on the screens I wouldn't know that a song was even in progress. It just comes across as a sustained noise. It's that way in most churches and in camps and conferences.

I can hear my children play at home. The piano, trumpet, saxaphones, guitars, drum and keyboards. Someone is always playing something around here and I love it.

Maybe kids these days just aren't capable of memorizing that many lyrics. You'll also notice that the lyrics don't contain any long or difficult words anymore . . . the "dumbing down" of America?

Back when I was a kid, I had memorized every lyric to every song Ray Stevens ever recorded . . . :ranting

Beaulah Land

The Ol Gospel Ship

"My current life is the pits, So I'll be glad when I'm dead Cuz I get a mansion"

I didn't remember all of the titles so I grouped them into 1, this Title should cover about half the songs in the hymnbook. LOL

LOL, towards the end of last year, we did this song at offering...the HG swept in, we couldn't continue the service, we stayed another 2 hours just juking and jiving. I scratched my head trying to figue God out on that one!!!

Man, I agree with everything that has been listed above...amazing!

Oh yes, and especially, "I'm a friend of God!!!!!!!" Paleeeese, go!!

That's weird that you say that, because some of the older people in our church were complaining a little about the "new" music being too WORDY! LOL!

Did you know that some of our most "precious" hymns were originally bar songs or country songs that were rewritten?

Music is a bridge that helps us "tune in" to God, it is a way to minister to the congregation, and its an avenue of praise. Therefore it doesn't matter if its the most newfangled thing on the market or a 300 year old hymn; what matters is whether it accomplishes one of those purposes.

Next time you hear a song that you don't like, stop and say to yourself: "It's not all about me. It's not all about me. It's about HIM."

If God is being glorified, hearts are being touched, worship and praise are being put forth and the Gospel is being shared...what is there to complain about?

Now about the repetitive songs--my Daddy used to tell me to "sing a new song [unto the Lord]", and I was required to introduce a new song every Sunday. It's good to keep things fresh; however, people tend to relate better to what is familiar, so keeping a good balance of old and new is the best way to go.


The songs that should be retired are the ones that a congregation doesn't respond well to. That's probably going to be different for every assembly.

I worship best if I'm not having to look at the words to sing. I like some of the new songs, but until you learn the words I feel like I'm just basically singing and not worshiping.

However, like MissB said, it's a venue to communicate with God and open the way to hear the word, so I try to keep an open mind about some of the new songs.

I miss singing some of the really heartfelt songs that stir something up inside you!

This is what we need to remember...what stirs up something inside of you may not do a thing for a teenager, but what really reaches their heart may sound like cacophony to you and I.

I'm So Glad I'm a Part of the Family of God

It's actually been a long, long time since I've heard that one, but back in the day, it was waaaaaay overused. I'm so glad it's gone! (Did you guys use that one, too? It's from my AG days.)

Can you name some?

"O Danny Boy" - "He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need"

is one that comes to my mind first.

If I ever ever ever hear... The presence of the Lord is here,,,, it will be too soon!!!!! Oh that song has been so worn out

It's not just in church..... as a DJ I cannot begin to express how sick I am of about 10 songs that people (no matter the event) insist get played at every single event.
You can probably guess most of them: Roy Orbison -Pretty Woman, Village People -YMCA, B-52's -Loveshack, Bill Haley -Rock around the Clock..... To name a mere four.

That's where I struggle with some of these newer songs.......I can't harmonize with them. I grew up on my mom's lap singing alto and if I can't harmonize then I'm lost............lol!

Not to mention the weird timing for some of the songs - - you get lost in worship and not watching the singer's mouth and blurt out a word two beats before everyone else does!

At least for weddings, there's the obligatory Chicken Dance!!! :happydance

Or electric slide!

Our Pastor asks, no requires our Worship leaders to have sufficient prayer a week before the service so that on the Sunday previous to that service the overheads are picked, musicians and praise singers practice thier songs that week.

When service time rolls around & having about an hour before service the worship leader starts service, if the Spirit is moving, the worship leader should be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit and can stay with a particular song.

It is called being sensitive to the Holy Ghost & not singing our favourites to death.

Miss Brattfield,

Music IS a bridge that connects to the very soul of a man. In fact, music is one of the chief ways to move beyond 'flesh' and make a connection deep into the spirit of that individual.

While preaching overseas (Ethiopia stands out prominent in my mind) they would sing in a language we didn't remotely understand but all of the American crusade team would be alternately sobbing and rejoicing. Music is an amazingly powerful force used, not only in Christianity, but in most every instance of idol worship and 'dark' religions that go on today.

Two things in closing:
* First, you state that one should say, "It's not about me, It's not about me" and I agree to a point. But what is the deal with all the "Jesus is my boyfriend" songs that focus on US instead of on HIM? Many of the new Vineyard, Hillsong and even contemporary black choirs (among others) are doing songs that have little to do with God and a lot to do with "I, me, my, our and mine"

I love all kinds of music from black gospel to bluegrass and most everything in between... except Opera style! (Sorry, Hugh Rose) However, I think we're losing some precious things among us by forgetting some of those old song book songs. We still sing some 'older' songs from time to time and our Church loves it. However, my heart ached recently when I started on G. T. Haywood's "I See A Crimson Stream Of Blood" and turned to find that NOT ONE of my praise singers knew the song.

Sad indeed.

* Secondly, you say that many of our songs come from 'country' songs. I'm aware of that but there is also the 'flip side' of that coin. There are various country songs that were taken directly from Church songs. I know the woman who actually wrote "I Didn't Know God Made Honkey Tonk Angels"... to the tune of "Great Speckled Bird"!

I get such a kick out of this thread! Every point of view is here.

I'm with you though... I don't like to overuse songs... even good ones. Still, every now and then when you pull out one that was overused at one time, and it just strikes a chord.

I like a good mix in services. I don't like every single song being brand new so that the people in the pew don't know it and can't sing along. Because then, the song service isn't about them worshiping and reaching out... because they don't even know the words. I don't think that's fair to them.

I also don't think every service should be all old stuff either... I love a nice sensible mix... that's me... sensible. :)

So... how about "I feeeeel like praisin' praisin' him"

:toofunny

My wife is a precious, praying, powerful Saint of God. Her number ONE complaint about Church is "Just every now and then... just sometimes... sing a song that I can sing harmony with instead of a jumbled cluster of words that say so little!"

In the newer P&W stuff the guitar is front and center.. whereas in years past the organ... and the keyboard... now it's the day of the guitar.

I like a mix... one song the guitar is carrying the song.. but not on every song. I think the old saying "too much of a good thing" is true... you can get sick of something, so changing it up often is great.

A lot of the P&W songs have a lot of lines that are sung in unison.. I have noticed that. Being a harmonizer myself I can relate to her sentiments. Although some of the new stuff is very nice.

"Jesus is my boyfriend"...As far as I'm concerned, singing about our love for God is a wonderful thing. I have heard a few that get too smarmy for my taste, but I can't think of many. For almost every modern worship song, I could probably pull an old hymn with similar lyrics (in older lingo).

I have just the opposite objection, actually. I've been to churches where they act like if you aren't singing directly TO God, then somehow the music is less than, less important, less worthy, it's like an elitist idea about music. The Bible says to speak to yourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. (In addition, to sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord.)

Does that make sense? Have you seen this happening? Amazing Grace...its totally about ME...but its telling how His Grace SAVED me, and expressing wonder at such a miracle. Such songs are precious and relative, whether they are old hymns or written by some young teenager who decided to set the lyrics to a pop melody.

I agree that some music is just boring and meaningless and pure entertainment or indulgence on the part of the musicians/singers. I also think it varies from church to church, and what works at one will not work at another, which is why the musicians and singers have an obligation to consult God about these things and stay in tune with Him. (NPI)

I've heard some old songs that are pretty meaningless...such as "Move Me With Your Message", and "Cain't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus", "Great Speckled Bird", etc. It isn't the "new" stuff that is meaningless...there have been meaningless songs written for centuries--right along side the good ones. So we have to be careful what we choose.

A few weeks ago, I started to write a thread about this same thing. I thought I would be misunderstood so I erased it and left it alone. I am glad you took up the subject.

I too cannot understand why this song has taken such a hold. I don't understand why we as a Oneness Pentecostal Movement have to take our Main songs from a Trinity Charismatic Movement. When we do, we leave out a whole section of songs about, the Godhead, the Blood, His Name, Second Coming, and on the list goes.

I love worshipful songs that get you to the dimension of feeling like you are the only one there alone with God, and these times are needful. But where have the services gone where when we sing about ONE GOD and the place goes nuts. I have a feeling that when this used to happen God rejoiced as well.

While there are a few places in the Bible that refers to us as friends, I could rather rejoice in the fact that I am called a child or a Son of God! If I am a Son of God I can rejoice over the inheiritence I am promised!

My nomination for songs that should have been retired is "Take The Shackles Off My Feet". I remember being in a service where this was sung. The spirit was not moving, no one was dancing, not even the praise singers and the song must have been sung 25 times to get the "spirit" moving. Don't know whose spirit they wanted to move but it wasn't God's!

I too vote for bringing back some of the hymnal songs. I think that some of them have gone by the wayside because of the terminology that is used in some of them. But, I agree, to let a song of great quality as "I See A Crimson Stream Of Blood" go drifting out of our movement is avery sad thing indeed.

Oh my, MissB that is one of my all time hated songs.............Cain't nobody do me like Jesus.

That's just almost nasty!!!!

Talk about getting 'em out of their pews too......oh my!

I guess where I'm having a problem is with this part: If you are sitting (or standing) in service waiting for the song you like to show up before you can worship God, then you are going about it all wrong. We've ALL had shackles (of sin) taken off our feet, so we can now dance (for joy)! That ought to be a song we can all identify with! So why isn't it?

I have a feeling if Amazing Grace were sang in a newfangled way, with funky music, that it wouldn't matter what the lyrics were--it would be "sat on" by those who don't like that genre of music.

I understand not liking certain types of music. But I don't understand discrediting folks as not being anointed if they sing a style you don't like. Sure, certain lyrics, certain sounds...they stir up your heart...but does our heart have to be stirred by certain lyrics and sounds before we can get stirred up about God?

I have a feeling if folks came INTO His courts with praise, and were thanking God for His goodness and worshipping before the band ever struck a note--well, I just think it would make a big difference, and I think the particulars of the music would be a lot less important.

Where I think it's "all about me" is when someone waits for "their" song before they are able to get on their feet and praise God. You know, if you'd go ahead and lift your hands and put forth a passionate effort, who's to say your actions might not change your attitude?

I know. I hate it. And with current lingo the way it is...it probably sounds pretty weird to newcomers.

:shhh If The Church is the Bride elect, the fiancee as is were, then wouldn't that make Jesus our boyfriend? :winkgrin :lol :winkgrin


I like new songs (I'm very eclectic in my tastes..except I don't care for opera in the Church), but I think sometimes they try too hard and put too many words in some of them, others not enough. I think we need a good mix of the new and old. Some of the older, Green Hymnal, songs are great and we could probably put them on the over head and many would think they were new. I led praise and worship when I was in Wisconsin and I'd break a out the Green Hymnal on occasion, and yes the church could worship with the old songs.

Let's face it worship is a heart matter, were praise is a head matter. You think to praise and love to worship! Praise and worship are not the same. It is all about Him and my relationship to Him!

Especially if followed up by singing "You are a friend of mine" -- lol!!!!

Amen! I have heard preachers use lingo i.e. make love to Jesus. They could use others words that would sound more appropriate.

That grosses me out too!

Sure I love him and I'll show Him all day long, but there's a difference in showing and making love to him. Ugh!